QUÉBEC — Marwah Rizqy has been expelled from the Quebec Liberal caucus by party leader Pablo Rodriguez, who cited her lack of loyalty as the reason for the decision. Rodriguez announced the expulsion on Tuesday, stating that Rizqy has caused significant damage to the party since she dismissed her chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse, last month, which triggered an internal crisis.

Rodriguez expressed his disappointment, saying, "She chose to turn her back on our team. Marwah Rizqy has made her choice. I made mine." This expulsion marks a significant development in a situation that has threatened the stability of the provincial Liberal party over the past two weeks.

Initially, Rodriguez suspended Rizqy after her decision to fire Hinse without prior consultation. He claims that Rizqy has not provided an explanation for her actions. In response, Rizqy issued a brief statement asserting her commitment to her constituents. "I would like to reiterate and assure them that I will continue to represent them with the same high standards as an Independent member of the legislature," she said.

Rizqy has not publicly disclosed the reasons behind Hinse's dismissal, referring to it as a human resources issue. Meanwhile, Rodriguez has indicated that he is in discussions to reinstate Hinse, who is considering the offer. "There is nothing, in my view, that demonstrates why we should not rehire her," he stated.

The Quebec Liberal party is also grappling with allegations related to the leadership race that Rodriguez won earlier this year. Recently, text messages published by a media outlet suggested that some party members who supported Rodriguez may have received cash incentives. Further allegations surfaced, claiming that an entrepreneur donated to Rodriguez's campaign at the behest of a businessman who promised favors in return.

Rodriguez has initiated an investigation into these allegations and has stated that anyone found involved in such misconduct will be expelled from the party. He has also claimed that he has not seen any evidence supporting the authenticity of the reported text messages. On Tuesday, he remarked that he sees "no connection" between the allegations and Rizqy’s dismissal of her chief of staff.

Rodriguez has reached out to Greg Kelley, another Liberal member of the legislature and Rizqy’s husband, to discuss the situation. "What I told Greg was that all of this is very difficult for him. I understand that when he wants to talk about it, we’ll talk about it," Rodriguez said. "And that none of this changes his relationship with me."